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Disclaimer
I own nothing of the Harry Potter franchise.
Glad to clear that up
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In the aftermath of Harry's emergence as the lord Slytherin and having consequently freed Malfoy from the oath, having justified it as a matter of honour after he gave him Scylla, which culminated in Harry claiming the lordship, Malfoy would often glare at Harry and be rude towards him and the remaining fourth years. Yet, the group remained strong and together, as proven one morning when Pansy, tired of Malfoy's bitchiness and arrogance, punched him right in the nose and left him behind in the common room.
While Slytherin house stood with Harry, the other three houses were divided by prejudice, curiosity and fear. Many among them were curious, most of them ravenclaws who wanted to know the truth about the founders but all of them were afraid to ask.
When the information leaked to the Daily Prophet, somehow, although Harry knew very well how, Hogwarts was assaulted by reporters, ministry officials and the minister himself and all other stories were pretty much ignored. Regrettably for all of them, Harry refused to give an interview to the Daily Prophet, reminding them of all the badmouthing and character bashing they had done to him since the champion's choosing night. The interview was offered to the Quibbler and Luna Lovegood was the one doing it at dinner two day after Harry's announcement.
FLASHBACK
"Thank you for the offer, Lord Potter-Slytherin." Luna Lovegood said, sitting in front of Harry at the Slytherin table, between Theo and Blaise.
"You're welcome, Miss Lovegood. Welcome to the snake table. I am ready for your questions whenever you are."
"Hey, what is looney doing at our table?" demanded Malfoy and Daphne groaned.
"Mind your own business, Malfoy." Daphne replied with a glare and Malfoy glared back.
"Watch your mouth, Greengrass. I am..." Daphne just waved her wand at him and Malfoy was silenced, continuing to rant in silence, much to his annoyance, being unable to finish the charm on himself silently. No one seemed to be willing to help him either.
"Should I put these events in the interview as well?" asked Luna and Harry laughed.
"Please do." he replied and everyone snickered.
"Let us start, then." Luna said, making sure her recording quill was writing everything "When did you become aware you were the Slytherin heir?"
"First of all, I was not the Slytherin heir. I was A Slytherin heir and as far as I know, there is only one other at this time... his name is Tom Riddle, also known as the Dark Lord Voldemort... and I just realized we're related. That's disturbing."
"Focus..." Daphne whispered.
"Just adding a joke, love." Harry replied with a chuckle "Answering your other question, I became aware of my possible inheritance the day I went to Gringotts to claim my Potter inheritance."
"I see... You claimed it was thanks to your mother. Did the former Lady Potter knew of her origins?"
"She did and she ordered the information to be sealed under secrets of House Potter. The goblins told me that they believed not even my father knew."
"Interesting. In that case, allow me to offer you my congratulations for claiming the lordship of house Slytherin. Can I ask you what you did to claim it?
"You may but as it's a family secret, I will not respond." Harry replied with a smirk. Luna looked around and saw the resignated looks of everyone, including Daphne.
"I see and I respect that." Luna replied "Then, if you'll allow me, I would like to ask you more about the excerpt you read from the diaries of Salazar Slytherin."
"Sure."
"Can I have a small transcript of it to publish? I am sure the public would like to read it themselves."
"That can be arranged." Harry agreed.
"Then, if I recall correctly, you read Slytherin opposed Gryffindor and Ravenclaw in revealing themselves?" asked Luna.
"He opposed them into revealing the location of Hogwarts to the muggle king." Harry replied "For what I was able to understand, Gryffindor was a half blood, son of a powerful wizard and a knight of the king. When Hogwarts was built and proved to work for nearly ten years, he demanded his peers they should reveal the secret to the king. That the king should know and that the king would protect the magical people. Ravenclaw, a noble pureblood, agreed because with the support of the crown, much could be improved and much money could be saved. In exchange, there would be wizards and witches available to help the realm. Hufflepuff didn't vote, as I read and I believe it was because of conflicted feelings."
"What do you mean?" asked Luna.
"Hufflepuff was a muggleborn and she was saved from muggles by none other than two young purebloods, Salazar Slytherin and his brother Salaren. They became close and Helga married Salaren, who died years before what I read, retrieving magical children to Hogwarts." Harry replied and everyone paid attention "I believe Helga wanted the end of the persecutions and for that, she agreed with Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Yet, she didn't believe it would happen and believed in Salazar. That's why she didn't vote." Harry replied "Salazar lost the vote and in his anger and fear, he retreated to his chambers after being insulted way too many times by Gryffindor for being, among many things, a sore loser, dark and disloyal to the crown."
"You reveal a very different Gryffindor than the one portrayed in history."
"I am revealing what I read in Salazar's journals..." Harry replied sharply "Probably a bit bigoted, sure, we have to take in consideration the dislike between both men... Yet, Salazar was a pragmatist, he came up with the idea to educate young children in magic..."
"Slytherin had the idea? I thought Ravenclaw did." Luna asked and many were very interested.
"Salazar had the idea to train young children and Rowena had the idea of Hogwarts." Harry replied with a thoughtful look and a chuckle "Pillow talk, I believe." everyone looked at Harry surprised "Yes, Ravenclaw and Slytherin were together for some time but she ended it to marry another man. Don't ask me for details... Salazar isn't much forthcoming about it in his memories."
"Live and learn..." Luna replied, still shocked.
"I haven't arrived to that part yet..." mumbled an also shocked Daphne.
"Like I said, Salazar was a pragmatist and believed that despite everything, Gryffindor would be able to help into their undertaking... and in the end, because of his and Ravenclaw's stubbornness, Hogwarts was nearly attacked by the muggles."
"What happened?" Luna asked.
"Who do you think create the muggle repelling wards around this castle?" Harry asked and everyone hearing him widened their eyes "Regardless of magic, Hogwarts was under defended and filled with children. Fighting would never be an option. Then Salazar did his best next thing, working around the clock to finish his greatest project to date. He weaved wards that would confuse muggles and make them leave the vicinities. Not only it would work to protect the castle, it could be used to make magical only settlements and be at peace. Needless to say, he succeeded but died in the effort. His son found his body in the chamber of secrets, read his father's last words and completed the trials his father left him, becoming the next lord of Slytherin. I don't know what else happened after that."
"You still know much." Luna replied "Would you consider to publish Slytherin journals?" Harry turned to Daphne with a smile.
"Probably." he replied, remembering how his wife had insisted on it in his past life.
"That is all, then. However, I do have one question more about the heirs of Slytherin..."
"Make it, then."
"You said 'there is only one other at this time'." Luna replied "Are you implying Lord Voldemort is still alive?"
"No comments on that." Harry replied with a smirk.
END OF FLASHBACK
The article was a success and many letters were sent to Harry, offering partnerships to publish the journals. Many other proposals were sent his way as well but he completely ignored the marriage contracts. There was only one woman for him and he knew it. Amusingly, Daphne showed him a letter his parents had sent her, pretty straightforward. She was to seduce Potter by any means and keep him on a tight leash, with the purpose of marriage.
Unlike what everyone knew, Daphne was aware of how Harry claimed the lordship. She simply kept the memory locked behind her best occlumency defences and her own Bael.
FLASHBACK
"Are you going to tell me how you did it?" asked Daphne later the same night, when they were together in the chamber of secrets.
"Obviously, but do you care to try and guess?" replied Harry.
"Mh..." Daphne started thinking "I said to put Scylla in the chamber and putting her guarding something valuable to make her feel important... how did that help?"
"That didn't." Harry replied with a chuckle "The other thing you said did."
"What else did I say?" she asked, thinking about the conversation at breakfast. "Tell her it's an important secret, something that no one, not even I can't know about and that because she's a fierce snake, no one would dare go through her ?" Daphne asked and shrugging "No, nothing."
"All right, think with me. If you were Slytherin, how would you hide something?"
"Like he did, hiding it in a way that can only be accessed by people with my traits."
"And what if there was something you wanted to keep hidden from everyone, even those people you love with your traits, as you said?"
Daphne frowned.
"I would hide it under powerful wards keyed to me only..." Daphne replied and Harry shook his head.
"You're being too obvious, Daph." Harry replied "Think Slytherin."
"What, hiding it in plain sight? In front of everyone?"
"Cunning and guile." replied Harry with a grin "Hide something in plain sight and make people believe they don't want to go near it and there you have it."
"I'm not sure I'm understanding your logic, here and at breakfast."
"When you said to put Scylla protecting something, I almost snorted, thinking as if I would feel safe with Scylla guarding something really important when everything I need to do to go around her is feed her... It's not like she's a fearsome snake like a king cobra, an anaconda or a basilisk..."
Daphne gaped, understanding what Harry was saying.
"No..." she whispered, gapping and looking at the statue of Salazar's head, its mouth opened, showing the path the basilisk used to leave its nest.
"Hiding something in plain sight, in a way that no one would even consider to go there and search for it..." Harry laughed "Who would be mad enough to grovel through a dark tunnel, into a basilisk nest, in search of Slytherin's legacy, parselmouths or not?"
END OF FLASHBACK
Daphne followed Harry through the tunnel and ended up in a large stone room, torches igniting the moment they left the tunnel. The room was large and had two levels. The lower one, where the basilisk slept and the upper one, reachable by a set of stairs. They went up and saw several trunks and shelves, still enduring the passage of time. In the shelves, Daphne widened her eyes as she saw several books and scrolls, counting the hundreds and imagining that there was only one reason for them to be there. They were to be seen only by the head of House Slytherin.
There was a small stone pedestal and according to Harry, that was where Harry had found the ring of the head of the house, standing on the last of Salazar Slytherin's journals. Lastly the trunks. There were a least twenty large trunks and all of them filled with gold, silver and relics. It was an amazing trove.
"One day, this will be yours as well, if you agree to marry me." Harry mumbled but Daphne heard him, blushing immensely, much to his amusement.
They left the vault moments later and started their training spars but Daphne's mind never forgot what Harry said.
* Paid In Blood *
Several days passed since that evening and a few things happened. The Weasley twins returned to Hogwarts with their sister but all three were strangely subdued and apathetic, barely going with the motions. Ginny Weasley was said to spend her free time in her room crying as the twins sat looking at the fireplace.
Harry had a visit from Sirius and Remus one afternoon after class and was caught in a small party with a green snake shaped cake and confetti, for him and all his friends, Malfoy included as well. Everyone laughed, although Malfoy found it immature, and spent some good moments with the two adults who had become a fixture in their lives whenever something happened around Harry.
Dumbledore announced a duelling club and a duelling competition, sponsored by professor Moody and professor Flitwick. According with the headmaster, and professor Flitwick, it would be a fine activity, teaching the students about the duelling protocols and proper duelling. According with Moody, it would teach them to be prepared and to be in CONSTANT VIGILANCE!
The new Black Wands spent some time practicing in the days before the first meeting and they made several duels between themselves, getting ready for the day. The day before, they were more than ready.
"All right, that's enough for the day." Harry said, watching the new Black Wands finishing their routine on duelling. They had successfully charmed Malfoy to fall asleep in his bed and left him there, once again.
"Yes, lord Slytherin." Theo replied with a snicker and Harry growled.
"Stop calling me that, Theo." Harry replied, noticing the others snickering.
"Of course, lord Slytherin." Theo said again and Harry cursed him with a stinging hex, making him yelp after being hit on his buttocks.
"Damn it, that hurts." Theo complained and everyone laughed.
"Keep calling me that and I'll keep curse you." Harry replied. It seemed that Theo wanted to say something but the pain spoke louder.
"Can't take a joke..." Theo grumbled, standing with the others.
"All right, this was it. Tomorrow it will be the first day of the duelling club and I'm pretty sure they'll want us to go over the basics... so be prepared for a very boring time." Harry spoke and many snorted "Especially because we're fourth year students and we shouldn't be allowed to duel the upper years."
"Like you shouldn't be in the tournament for students of age only?" asked Daphne and Harry snorted and everyone else laughed "Besides, Moody is one of the teachers in the club."
"Constant Vigilance." Blaise spoke in a softer tone than Moody, but enough to make his point across "I bet that bastard will be around us and throw curses for us to defend."
"I'll take that bet..." Tracy replied "Flitwick wouldn't allow him to do that."
"Since when does Moody listen to anyone but himself?" asked Millie and Tracy actually considered her chances.
"Anyway, remember, have fun and if you duel, win." Harry replied with a smile "Now let's go before the curfew is on. "
The group left the Room of Requirement and walked down to the dungeons laughing, not finding anyone in their path. When they arrived at the door to the common room, Harry hissed before any of them could speak and the wall opened.
"One of these days I'm going to forget the password and when I'm locked outside, I'm blaming you." Tracy told Harry with a smirk and all went inside, only to find a group of sixth years around Scylla's tank.
"Potter, glad you're here." one of them called.
"Is there something wrong?" Harry asked.
"Scylla is... how to put this..."
"Getting bigger and fatter than she was suppose to." one of the other sixth year students said. Harry rose an eyebrow and realized one of them had a small parchment with him "We've been monitoring her growth to Care as a small project and... we thought you should know."
"Yeah, I know..." Harry replied with a sigh "With the amount of food she eats, I'm surprised she didn't burst already but yes, I know..."
"Stop making so much noise!" Scylla chose that moment to made herself known, raising her head in the tank "My pet! I missed you today. Where have you been?"
"Training with my friends, Scylla." Harry replied with a small smile, looking at the snake with a curious look "Scylla, are you all right? You seem to be drooling."
"I know, I finally started to produce venom." the snake hissed in enjoyment and everyone was looking at Harry, waiting to know what was happening "It's all thanks to you and all your care. I want to offer you a gift, my pet. I want you to have my first poison."
"Your fist poison?" asked Harry, raising an eyebrow "You have being threatening to bite people for weeks and you're telling me you didn't have poison?"
Scylla lowered her head, as if ashamed.
"I had to be threatening to be fed, didn't I?" Harry laughed, noticed by everyone
"Well, congratulations, then, Scylla, you smart girl." Harry said with a smile and putting his hand on the tank to caress Scylla's head "You're getting big, then."
"About time..." Scylla complained with a huff "Bring me a vial, my pet and all the poison I can spare will be yours." Harry waved his wand and a small crystal and unbreakable vial appeared. Scylla coiled itself around Harry's arm and he placed it near the vial with a flinch.
"You're getting stronger, Scylla..." Harry complained, feeling the pain in his arm where Scylla had been coiled.
"Harry, what are you doing?" asked Daphne, curious.
"Scylla decided that because I took so good care of her, I should have her first poison." Harry replied with an amused chuckle "Just making her happy."
"Her first poison?" asked Millie, looking at the snake's size "How can it be her first poison?"
"I have no idea." Harry replied "What I know is what she told me... The people at the store didn't fed her and she didn't grow properly... maybe that's it."
"Maybe..." Daphne replied, standing next to Harry and watching as Scylla's yellowish poison dripped into the vial from the snake's fangs.
"There, that's all I can spare, my pet." Scylla announced with a pleased tone, coiling itself on the table where she stood.
"Thank you, Scylla." Harry replied, having no idea about what to do with the poison. He'd probably put it on a shelf or offer it to Millie for experiments with potions.
"Be careful, my pet." Scylla told him "If I was bigger and older, my poison would be deadly for you. As I am still growing and barely more than a hatchling, it's not as dangerous but it may still be deadly. Maybe you can still use it on the useless blond monkey that didn't feed me. Or better yet, maybe I can bite him now that I have poison."
"Scylla, if you bite him, people will know and they will try to come here and kill you." Harry told Scylla, only for the snake to scoff.
"As if they could." she scoffed "I have you to protect me and..."
"Scylla..." Harry admonished the snake in a firm tone "You can't bite anyone in this castle, do you understand me? You would be in danger and not even I would be able to help you." much to his surprise, the snake coiled around itself.
"If you don't want me to, then I won't."
"Thank you, Scylla." Harry replied with a sigh, offering his arm "We all like you and we don't want you do be in danger."
Scylla coiled itself around Harry's arm and once again, Harry hissed.
"Scylla, you're hurting me..." Harry complained.
"Harry, are you alright?" Daphne asked.
"Just Scylla, squeezing hard." Harry replied.
"I'm sorry my pet. It seems I'm getting really stronger." Scylla replied amused "My pet, I want a new nest. This one is getting smaller to my greatness. A dark and a cool place where I can grow larger and more powerful would be more suitable."
"There isn't a place like that around here, Scylla." Harry replied with a frown, placing Scylla in the tank "Besides, if I find you one, people wouldn't see you that often."
"Ah, well, we wouldn't like to prevent others to witness my growth and my greatness, would we?" Scylla asked as Harry dropped all of her in the glass tank.
"Besides, if you grow much more, you'll become as big as a basilisk in no time." Harry joked and Scylla perked up at that "Good night, Scylla."
"You're so silly, my pet. Of course I'll grow as big as a basilisk. I may be a hatchling but I am a basilisk." at that, Harry, who had already turned his back on Scylla and was starting to walk next to Daphne, paled considerably, tripping on his own step, attracting the attention of everyone.
"Harry, what's wrong?" asked Daphne, already up. All she saw was Harry's shocked look before he turned back.
"WHAT?" Harry asked in surprise, shock and fear. Everyone turned to him; They were used to the parseltongue but Harry never shouted like that.
"I said I'm a basilisk, my pet." Scylla replied "I'm little more than a hatchling but I'm still a basilisk."
Harry felt the strength on his legs vanish and fell on his knees in shock, only able to gap.
"Harry?!" demanded Daphne in surprise as she saw Harry fall on his knees, scaring everyone. He just started to laugh, falling on his back as he laughed and laughed at the stupidity of the situation.
"Harry!" Daphne demanded, concerned "Tell me what happened."
"Malfoy..." Harry laughed in amusement.
"What about him?" asked Theo, not understanding.
"I'm going to kill him." Harry stopped his laughter, keeping his eyes closed and a huge grin on his lips.
"Why?" asked Daphne, his eyebrows raised. Everyone wondered the same.
"Because no matter how much I may love Scylla, that pathetic excuse for a wizard brought a basilisk hatchling into our midst." Harry replied with an amused grin as everyone paled like ghosts "And none of us was the wiser."
* Paid In Blood *
Dobby popped into the chamber of secrets with the tank containing Scylla and left it on the floor, ignoring the surprised looks the basilisk hatchling gave him. Scylla was surprised but her pet had told her not to leave the tank neither to do anything against Dobby and she intended to do as he asked. She liked her pet and if she made her pet sad, he wouldn't take care of her and she wouldn't be properly fed nor be able to grow... She looked around and saw the statues of several snakes and much to her surprise, she saw the bones of a giant snake. Because it was so big, she thought it to be a basilisk as well.
"Hello, Scylla." she heard her pet say and turned to him immediately.
"My pet, where are we? Are those basilisk bones?"
"You are in the chamber of secrets, Scylla. Where I some to train and sleep." Harry replied and Scylla noticed he wasn't looking to her "Scylla, when will you gain the ability to kill with a look?"
"When my eyes grow all yellow." Scylla said proudly.
"Will you be able to control it, Scylla?" Harry asked and Scylla noticed the concern on his pet's voice.
"Yes, I think I will... Sehron said I would..."
"Who's Sehron, Scylla?" asked a concerned Harry.
"He's the one who taught me, my pet. He's not a basilisk but he was old and wise. I met him at the store and he told me about basilisks and that I was one. He died a few days before the blonde monkey took me."
Harry just nodded.
"How will you control it?" asked Harry and Scylla told him about the extra lid Sehron told him about, the one she had to open to be able to kill with a look.
"And you have it closed?" asked Harry in surprise when she told him.
"Of course, my pet. I wouldn't want to hurt you. Neither your mate or any of the ones important for you. You wouldn't like me and take care of me then."
"Scylla..." Harry said after some moments of silence "If people find you, they will kill you."
"But why?"
"Because they are afraid of what you'll become when you grow." Harry replied with a small smile, caressing the snake's head "If you want to go somewhere, I can ask Dobby to take you and you'll be safe. All you have to do is find your dark and cool place... and hunt for food."
"But... but..."
"Or..." Harry spoke with a small smile "You can help me and I will make sure you are well fed and have a dark and cool place for yourself."
"YES!" Scylla pretty much shouted, making Harry chuckle. He pointed to the bones of the basilisk.
"That was the former guardian of the chamber." Harry told Scylla "A bad man was controlling him and forced him to kill students and me."
Scylla hissed.
"You are even stronger than I thought, my pet."
"After I killed him, I killed the bad man but he didn't die because of magics he did. He's the one I need to kill."
"And of course, you need my help." Scylla replied.
"Maybe..." Harry replied "Do you promise not to attack anyone unless I ask you to?
"Yes, my pet. I promise." Scylla replied with a nod.
"Then you can stay here, if you want." Harry said, waving around "The old one's nest was inside the statue's mouth but my mate and I will go there often and may disturb you. We also stay in that room there." Harry replied pointing at the places "Every morning, Dobby will bring you some food and all you have to do is stay here. Only those who speak the serpent tongue may come here, unless they are the bad man."
"I understand, my pet." Scylla replied "Can I go see the nest of the old one? And can I stay there too?" Harry nodded and Scylla started to slither towards the statue "Thank you, my pet."
As Scylla slithered away, Harry's eyes steeled themselves, as did his demeanour. He drew his wand from his holster and told himself a basilisk was far too dangerous, even if it was Scylla...
* Paid In Blood *
Harry was popped to the common room once again by Dobby, only to find everyone there, glaring at Malfoy, who stood alone in one side of the common room. When he saw Harry, he glared at him and wanted to sneer and shout at him but Harry was faster and drew his wand, casting a disarming charm on Malfoy.
"What the hell, Potter?" Malfoy shouted and Harry gave Malfoy's and his wand to the one closest to him, a first year student girl who looked surprised.
Harry said nothing and removed his robe.
"Potter?" asked Alistair as he saw Harry pushing his sleeves up.
"Malfoy..." Harry spoke in a low and cold tone, approaching the blond dangerously "You brought a basilisk into this common room." everyone paled again, remembering the panic they had just experienced "Scylla could have killed us all..." Harry punched Malfoy's jaw with a strong punch, making the blond fall immediately, although not falling unconscious "You stupid shit..."
"I didn't know..." Malfoy replied in fear, seeing Harry's cold looks and seeing no one trying to help him.
"I really want to hurt you right now..." Harry said in a cold hiss "But I'm only one and everyone here has a saying in what to do with you... It was all of us your actions threatened." Harry spoke, turning away from the blond and claiming his wand and robes.
"Potter, what about... Scylla?" asked Eliza hesitantly and many wanted to know the same.
"I took care of her." Harry replied and many paled as they heard Harry's words, understanding the hidden meaning.
"You... You killed it?" a sixth year asked in shock.
"I SAID I TOOK CARE OF HER!" Harry shouted, scaring all, dressing his robe and leaving through the common room's door with his wand in his hand.
"Stay here and deal with this, I'll take care of him." Daphne said, following Harry through the entrance. No one dared to move, all seeing the hole of the door closing.
"What about Malfoy, then?" asked Astoria Greengrass.
Daphne entangled her arm with Harry's and said nothing, just walking at his side, at his own pace. Harry looked at her but said nothing. They walked for a good while and she realized they were going in the direction of the Room of Requirements.
"I'm angry." Harry whispered.
"I can tell." Daphne replied.
No more words were said until they reached the Room of Requirements. Harry walked three times in front of the door and opened it, revealing a garden with a small creek flowing through it. Daphne followed him and found it a beautiful spot.
"What is this?" she asked.
"It's on the Potter Estate." Harry explained with a sigh, sitting on the ground and falling on his back, looking to the blue sky conjured by the room "It used to be our favourite spot."
"It's beautiful." Daphne replied, kneeling next to Harry and playing with his hair.
"Lay at my side." he asked and Daphne did as he asked. There was no kissing, no snogging, no nothing. The two of them just stood there, in silence with each other. One being supportive to the one she loved and the other brooding on his actions.
* Paid In Blood *
The next day, Harry and Daphne went back to the common room, where both showered and changed clothes. Harry was the first to be ready and sat in the common room, looking to the fire in the fireplace.
"Good morning." Alistair said sitting next to Harry, who recognized his presence with a greeting in a small whisper "I thought you'd like to know what happened last night after you left... Malfoy was banished from the house and we took him to Snape and explained everything to him." Harry nodded in silence "We don't know what will become of him but he won't be a Slytherin any time soon."
"Luckily, his father won't hear about it." Brian laughed on the other side of Harry "Good morning."
"You held a house meeting?" Harry asked "Daph and I were missing."
"Special circumstances were considered..."
"Potter... Harry... how are you?" asked Alistair and Harry chuckled at the question.
"Tell me, Alistair, are you and Brian here friends? Would you trust him with your life?"
"Of course." Alistair replied and Brian nodded.
"Knowing that Brian, would you kill Alistair because he's a danger to everyone?" asked Harry and both young men gaped, looking at each other and Harry "Yeah, I thought so." Harry replied to the silence, with a sigh "I'll be fine."
"So, are you fourthies ready to the club later today?" asked Brian with a smile and they saw a small smile on Harry.
"That depends of what the club will entail, exactly." Harry replied. Theo was the first to come down and see Harry with the two young men of the Triumvirate. When they saw him, both Brian and Alistair left Harry, Brian having given him a soft tap on the shoulder.
"Hey, good morning." Theo said, sitting with Harry.
"Good morning." Harry replied with a nod.
"Malfoy's gone." Theo said, not knowing what to really say.
"Alistair and Brian told me." Harry replied amused.
"It was also unanimous." Theo added with a chuckle "His face was priceless..." he snickered for some moments, turning to Harry "What about you?"
"I'm fine." Harry replied softly "I spent the night at the Room of Requirements. Daphne held me and we talked."
"We all owe you, you know?" Theo said.
"For what?" asked Harry, raising an eyebrow.
"For finding out..." Theo replied "Before anything happened." Harry nodded and Theo saw his sad and concerned demeanour "Was it hard?"
"I did the right thing." Harry replied and Theo accepted it, both boys falling into a comfortable silence. In nearly thirty minutes, the group of the nine fourth year students was in the common room, ready for breakfast.
"Shall we go, then?" asked Harry, hand tight with Daphne, both leading the group. They talked softly among themselves until they reached the great hall and entered it. No one noticed anything odd and the nine slytherins went to their table, where they sat and had their breakfast in quiet companionship, with some jokes and normal bantering.
That was, until Snape showed up.
"Mr. Potter." the man drooled, attracting the attention of everyone around.
"Professor, if this is about beating up Malfoy, tell me the time and I'll be there." Harry replied and Snape only nodded.
"Nine o'clock tomorrow night." Snape said, looking at the green eyed teenager "One hundred points to Slytherin for identifying a dangerous creature and possibly saving many lives. I believe the headmaster will want to speak to you soon, as well." Harry nodded and Snape left them to their breakfast.
"Wait, professor." Harry called, rising from his seat and going to his pocket, handling the man a vial with the yellowish poison he kept. Snape rose an eyebrow at it "I'm sure you can find a useful way to use basilisk poison." Snape widened his eyes in shock and only nodded, turning his back on Harry but not before giving him ten more points.
"So, what's the first class today?" asked Harry, sitting with Daphne and offering her a kiss in the cheek, which she took gladly.
* Paid In Blood *
The day passed quietly and many students wondered why Malfoy was wearing dark robes without green and silver, looking sullen. They were simply told that Malfoy threatened the lives of all of them and was banished, with no chances of returning to the snake pit. Those who wanted to know more received nothing else.
Harry paid attention in classes and did his coursework flawlessly and without complaint. He even helped his friends who needed help but barely spoke more than what he had to. Then, the time of the first duelling club arrived and everyone interested showed up in the great hall at six o'clock.
"Let's see what happens, then." Blaise mumbled and the nine Slytherins walked into the hall, joining almost everyone who was currently in Hogwarts. They only needed to wait for a bit before professors Flitwick and Moody appeared, offering them a small introduction to duelling, from the perspectives of a professional duellist and an auror.
"Now, let us start by pairing up and then we will practice the disarming and the shield charms." Flitwick said and Moody snorted but said nothing.
"I told you it would be going through the basics." Harry whispered as he paired up with Daphne.
"I expected nothing less." she replied with a chuckle "We're a special case." Harry laughed and cast the disarming charm against Daphne, who defended with a perfectly raised shield.
The nine Slytherins joining the groups of sixth and seventh years in doing the exercise in their bored cadences and waited for the others to finish, having the opportunity to watch the other students. Daphne noticed Astoria, paired with one of her friends, managing to somewhat cast the disarming charm but failing the shield.
"Maybe I should help my sister." she whispered to herself, heard by Harry "If nothing else, maybe it could help her grades."
"Do you want to invite her to a meeting of the study group?" asked Harry and Daphne thought about it.
"Sure, I think it would be fun for her and she could learn something." Daphne replied and Harry chuckled, looking around for others. He saw Hannah Callen paired with a friend of hers, managing both spells, as did Justin Smith. He thought about a proper excuse he could give to invite his friends from the past life but the best excuse was he saw how good they were in the duelling club and invited them for everyone's benefit. They would certainly accept the invitation. Then his eyes went to a small group of first year dorks and he saw none other than little Jason Hallys managing both spells, surprising him greatly, considering the boy was just a first year.
"That brat will go far..." he whispered.
"Who?" asked Daphne.
"Hallys. I just saw him casting both spells and he's just a first year." he replied and Daphne rose an eyebrow, following Harry's eyes to the gryffindor group, watching the Hallys boy casting the spells again but failing the celebration his house and year mates did when succeeding.
"Fine, he's impressive..." Daphne asked, turning to Harry "Are you thinking of inviting him to the group?"
"Can I?" Harry asked with a surprised look.
"I don't know..." she replied, with a surprised look "You're the leader, you decide that. But if you want my opinion..."
"Which I always do." he replied.
"The boy may have potential but don't forget he's a gryffindor. It wouldn't be easy for everyone to accept."
"Unless we invited other people."
"True, but that's not important for now."
"Yes..." Harry replied, noticing Moody and Flitwick were wrapping up with helping everyone who needed.
"Very well, students. Let us try some actual duelling." Flitwick suggested, raising a duelling platform "We shall make random pairings by years and test the skill of some of you... Let us start with the first years..."
Three boring duels later, Harry perked up hearing Jason being called to duel one of the Slytherin's first years.
It started as any other, with a bow and entering in position. Harry saw the overconfidence of the slytherin boy and the focus of Jason.
"And begin!" announced Flitwick. The slytherin boy rose his wand, not moving from his position and chanted the spell. Unfortunately for him, Jason moved from his position and cast the disarming charm much faster, the spell hitting the other boy before he even finished the incantation.
"The winner, Mr. Hallys. Five points for Gryffindor." Flitwick announced and Harry noticed how everyone in red and gold, with the exception of Jason, cheered.
The duels continued but the time for the club ended, much to everyone's annoyance.
"Well, that was a complete waste of time." Theo mumbled as they returned to the dungeons.
"I don't know, I saw some amusing things." Blaise replied with a chuckle, remembering a few third years "duelling".
"Did you guys saw anyone you believe would make a good addition to our little group?" asked Daphne, walking besides Harry.
"I did." Harry replied, as she knew he would.
"I saw a ravenclaw but I don't know his name." Tracy replied.
"Why?" asked Millie "Are you thinking of inviting these people?"
"If they are suitable and a good addition, why not?" asked Harry.
"Even if they are from another house?" Theo asked with a raised eyebrow.
"As long as they aren't imbeciles, why not?" Harry replied.
"What's the point?" asked Mille, wondering "Are you trying to form a group to influence all the houses?"
"No, but now that you mention it..." Harry replied, tilting his head and smirking "It would be nice to have some peace and quiet at school."
"Speaks the guy responsible for most of the agitation." Pansy replied and they all laughed.
* Paid In Blood *
"That's... Are you sure?" Daphne asked as Harry finished telling her the plan to get the cup from Gringotts. February was starting and they had hidden themselves in the Room of Requirements for some light training before the meeting with the Black Wands.
"It's a little ambitious, true, but it's very doable. Besides, suspicions will be diverted and we solve the problem of the death eaters once and for all."
"Can you even do all that you said?" Daphne asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It should take me a few days to complete the necessary equipment, give or take." he replied "It's the best way to make sure they don't escape to cause havoc."
"I'm not against that but..." Daphne replied "Much of your plan relies on me..."
"And that's a problem how?" asked Harry, surprised.
"Are you sure?" she asked again and Harry nodded.
"You have the pureblood upbringing to convince them." Harry replied and Daphne rose an eyebrow.
"You're a dark lord who led this whole country for years." she replied.
"And I accepted no bullshit from anyone, least of all the pureblood faction. I had my sister in law for that." Harry replied "Or do you prefer to handle the dementors?" he asked her and Daphne scoffed at the question.
"Fine, I'll do it..." she replied with a sigh "What else do we need?"
"Glamours, proper code names, it wouldn't do to spill our identities to anyone..."
"Obviously..." Daphne replied with a snort.
"Maybe teaching you a painful curse to encourage anyone who has doubts about us..." Harry mused "There will certainly be some who will ask questions..."
"A bone breaker can convince as well as a cruciatus." Daphne replied and Harry had to agree with that.
"Very well... that leaves only one thing. When?" Harry asked and Daphne crossed her arms.
"How many days do you think we need to prepare?" asked Daphne.
"In one week, we should have everything we need... but what about you?" he asked and Daphne gulped.
"Then let us do it as we are capable... besides, the second task is only at the end of the month and we better solve the cup situation before it." she replied. Before Harry could speak, Dobby popped into the room.
"Master, Mistress, your friends and some guests are waiting outside."
"Already?" asked Daphne.
"Better delaying this conversation to later on..." Harry mumbled "Dobby, get the equipment ready and get some materials."
"Very well, master." Dobby replied, popping away. Daphne waved her wand at the door and unlocked it, allowing everyone outside to enter the room.
Daphne stood at Harry's side as their friends entered, accompanied by a few newbies. Astoria Greengrass was among them, as were five more Slytherins, two younger than him and three older, as well as two ravenclaws, one of them being none other than Justin Smith, both surprised with what they were seeing.
"Welcome to the Room of Requirement." Harry started after some moments, looking to the new additions "I'm glad you decided to accept the invitation to join us here today... although I can see not everyone accepted the invitation, a shame..."
"What is this and why are we here?" one of the Ravenclaws, clearly an older boy asked and Harry wondered who he was and who had invited him.
"And you are?" Harry asked the boy.
"Rodrick Bullstrode." the boy replied.
"This, Rodrick Bullstrode, is a study and duelling club and after watching your performance at the duelling club a few weeks ago, it was decided you were a fine addition to our group and we decided to invite you to join."
"Mh... not interested, then." the boy replied, surprising most.
"As you wish." Harry replied with a nod, waving at the door. The older boy walked to the door and opened it, almost hitting a late arrival.
"Sorry I'm late..." they all heard a voice say "I had some difficulties in being alone. Am I too late?"
"Don't ask me, ask them." the older Bullstrode replied, leaving the room. Had anyone noticed it, they would see his eyes glazing as he stepped out of the room. As soon as he would walk away for a few feet, the charms Harry had placed at the door would work to destroy the memory of the meeting and the invitation.
"Get in and close the door." Daphne replied curious and almost raised an eyebrow when she recognized who the late arrival was.
"Sorry I'm late, like I said, I..." the words died on Jason Hally's throat the moment he saw the several students wearing green and silver looking at him, none of them showing surprise but clearly very interested in him and his presence.
"Ah, Mr Hallys, glad you could join us." Harry replied in a neutral tone, secretly happy the boy had made it "Do come in. You didn't miss much."
The boy looked at the others and gulped. Embracing his Gryffindor traits, he charged forward and joined the group. He had no idea what was happening but he had received an invitation from the lord Potter himself, assuring his safety.
"What's a dork doing here?" Asked none other than Astoria Greengrass, very much surprised.
"He was invited as you were." Daphne replied, looking at Harry, who nodded.
"Like I said to Mr. Bullstrode, who regrettably left us, we are a study group in search of new members, to improve our duelling skills and we chose to invite you thanks to your displays at the duelling club a few weeks ago." Harry told them "Those of you who are younger than the founding members, those are we fourth year Slytherins, were chosen because you showed great potential. The others were chosen because not only you show great potential, we recognize you can help us grow and we can help you in return. More, if we manage to have members from all houses, we can form an influence alliance here in Hogwarts."
"And control the school?" a Slytherin asked.
"I would say keep conflicts to a minimum and help to keep order and the peace." Harry replied "There have been enough conflicts in these halls for stupid things. Although, for now, our focus is practice and study. Who wants in and who wants out?" asked Harry and he was satisfied as everyone stayed.
A quick separation was made and Daphne took the four younger students to one side of the room as Harry stayed with the others to give some instructions and suggestions of exercises. All new additions were surprised as they saw the training dummies appear from the walls, some moving. Harry then joined Daphne and the four younger students, Jason, who was a first year, Astoria, a second year, Charles Armstrong and Denise Brownhills, both third years.
Jason actually felt a fish out of water, standing with the Slytherins.
"No one will hurt you in this room, Mr. Hallys." Daphne said, noticing the boy's nervous "Try to relax."
"I did tell you that, didn't I?" Harry asked, joining them.
"Yes, about that, why me?" Jason asked Harry "You said I have potential, but why me? There are others in Gryffindor much better. I'm just a first year and a muggleborn."
"So?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow "Fine, if it makes you at ease, I'll answer your questions. I invited you for two reasons. One I already told you. You were rather decent in your match in the duelling club and have potential to grow. With help, you can become quite powerful."
More than you were the first time around.
"And the second reason?" the boy asked, feeling proud of himself after hearing Harry's words, ignoring the scoffs from the other three.
"You apologised to me before the break. You were the first and only to do it, as well." Harry replied bluntly and all of them rose an eyebrow in surprise, not to mention shock "Is that enough for you?"
Jason looked at Harry and nodded.
"Thank you for the opportunity, and your faith in me, then." Jason replied with a small bow. Harry nodded and started to lecture the four in the stunning spell. After twenty minutes, the four of them were already casting the spell against the dummies, leaving Daphne and Harry alone.
"I'm sorry." Daphne mumbled.
"Mh?"
"I'm sorry for what I did before... I never did apologize for it, did I?"
"Oh... don't worry. I never held it against you or any of our friends." Harry replied with a small smile, hugging her by the side "But it's nice to know you feel like that."
"Stupefy!" Jason chanted and nothing happened. Daphne looked at the young wizard and didn't miss the wondering look, nor the smirk her sister gave.
"You're not doing any better, Astoria." Daphne admonished her sister and Astoria actually blushed, going back at her cast.
"Ma'am?" Jason asked, turning to Daphne and surprising her "What am I doing wrong?"
"Personally, I think you and my sister are two young to cast the stunning spell but Harry seems to think that because you two are able to cast the simple shield charm and the disarming charm, you are also able to cast the stunning charm." Daphne told him "I can only tell you what Harry told me and the same to you, Astoria. Channel your magic to the wand. You are either not doing it properly or aren't channelling enough. "
"Yes ma'am." Jason replied, going back to his work. Astoria looked to her sister, who encouraged her with a nod and she too went back to work. Harry was speaking to the third years, who had managed the work and was giving them instructions to follow in the other group, as well as instructing them on how to summon books and materials for helping. It seemed that Daphne was in charge of her sister and Jason Hallys. She decided to look at the boy she knew had been her brother-in-law in Harry's past life. At a first glance, he really was just another boy, nothing special. Yet, knowing what she knew, she wondered how such a normal looking boy could have become the man Harry had told her about. She knew about his grandfather's death but that had been years after the last battle and she knew he had fought in it. Looking to her sister trying to cast the spell, she wondered if future Astoria was truly happy with him.
"Knut for your thoughts?" asked Harry, embracing her from behind, dragging her to the present once again.
"I was watching Hallys and my sister and I wondered about them in your past." she whispered after casting a secrecy charm on them.
"Mh, have they started ranting at each other already?" Harry asked and Daphne looked surprised at him "That was fast."
"No, they didn't and what do you mean with that?" Daphne asked surprised.
"She's a Slytherin, he's a Gryffindor. Sparks flew when the two of them disagreed on something and I assure you, some of their discussions were a great source of entertainment for me."
"Oh?" Daphne asked, crossing her arms "How did they get together, then?"
"I'm not really sure... I remember hearing Astoria arguing with him for some reason but I ignored them. It was late and I had to put our daughter to bed." Harry told Daphne with a soft smile "The following day, Daphy told me she had seen them kissing."
"Uh... and did they argue a lot?" asked Daphne.
"Most of the time before they got together. After that, not so much, unless for really important things."
"They had a son, didn't they?"
"Adam Greengrass-Hallys." Harry replied with a smile "Bold as his father, cunning as his mother and the bane of the Greengrass and the Malfoy families.
"And what does that mean?" Daphne asked, making Harry chuckle.
"I'll tell you later." he replied and Daphne accepted it with a huff.
"Fine. Just tell me one more thing, you told me Hallys died?"
"Yes, he died in the third war, the one against the muggles." Harry spoke sadly, looking at the boy still attempting the curse.
"How did it even start?" asked Daphne.
"How else, it started with Titania's policies... do you remember when I told you they wanted to change our world to something akin to the muggle world and reveal ourselves to them?" Daphne nodded with a scowl "As it turned out, she also attempted to take several of our potions and magics to the muggle world... and had created a company with muggles and squibbs in the muggle world, with the use of some small magic and a few muggleborns to recreate the potions as medicine, study the magical folks and creatures using science... needless to say when she fell, that company was already autonomous... and their agents and mercenaries were well trained to kidnap magicals for them to experiment upon. The kidnappings were the first indication that something was off."
"So, the third war was actually an extent of the second one?" Daphne asked outraged and Harry nodded.
"Sort of. They employed mercenaries and asked for the support of the crown, wanting protection against terrorists targeting their company. Then they had the prime minister support when they claimed they were trying to recreate the magical potions in the muggle way, trying to help the world. The muggle prime minister turned to their side and that was when we had our first clue who our enemy truly was." Daphne trembled in anger as Harry spoke "We located their headquarters, ironically heavily fortified under powerful wards and muggle security systems, somehow both working together and in an unplotable location right in London, warded against even house-elves... and back then I wasn't good enough with fading. I had barely started to study it... Obviously, we attacked in full force and lost many good people but we ended that damned company, killed their leaders, destroyed all their research and my personal favourite, I put the prime minister and the Queen under the imperius curse, to make the muggles end the influence of the company and make sure it was over." Daphne rose an eyebrow in surprise "Well, that and to make sure we were protected, having them acting as our first line of defence against further muggle attacks..."
"Uh..." Daphne mumbled before chuckling.
"Yet... we lost many against the muggles'... Many good people... not to mention those that hit the closest... Theo was hit in the spine and spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair with no chances of ever walking again and Jason... " to Daphne, Harry didn't need to say anything else "It didn't help that Astoria discovered she was pregnant after it happened."
"Oh gods..." Daphne whispered, being embraced by Harry, looking to the first year and the second year. Astoria managed to cast the spell and started to gloat but it was only for some small moments, since Jason also managed to cast the spell.
* Paid In Blood *
Harry cursed the last of the several men and women in the room, all of them wearing business suits and guns. His own wounds bothered him but he wanted to make sure he got all of them.
"That's all of them, my lord." one of the soldiers with Harry replied, that one carrying a wand and wearing black robes. A patronus cat came from the floor and approached Harry.
"Lord Potter, we located the research labs and have destroyed every sample and freed every prisoner. We are unable to send them to St. Mungis by portkey while the wards are still up."
"Badenhill, send a message to the curse breakers to find the ward stones and put them down." Harry ordered one of his soldiers, who nodded and cast a patronus of his own, a bird "Regis, what can you tell me?"
"These computers have access to the mainframe and I can use them to make a remote connection..." one man in muggle clothes said, working on a computer.
"In english!" Harry demanded and the imperio'd man blinked.
"I can use these computers to get the locations of all bases and safehouses, if there are any other left and destroy all information."
"Then do it." Harry ordered, passing his hand on his greying hair in annoyance.
"My lord, I just received a patronus from captain Hallys team. The captain was injured in one of the labs and it's very bad. He needs an immediate extraction."
"WHAT!?" demanded Harry, paling considerable "Where is he?"
"Tenth floor, my lord. We are on the fifteenth." the man Badenhill replied and Harry left the room where they were, being followed by three others. Harry ran to the stairs and ran down five floors, running into a destroyed lab on the tenth floor, finding the team with little effort, two of them around the body of their captain and the four others in a defensive stance.
"What the hell happened here?" Harry demanded as soon as he reached them.
"One of the muggles had a new weapon, my lord. I saw it and seems to be one of the "mashkine-gons"?" the woman replied unsure and Harry glared at her, making her continue "The bullets it used were larger, had runic patters and were coated in poison..."
"Hey...Harry..." Harry heard the soft whispers and immediately turned to the fallen body, his brother-in-law "Did... we... won?"
"Yes, Jason, we won. You have to hold on now." Harry spoke, noticing the black blood oozing from the large wounds in Jason's belly. Not good at all.
"Being...shot... fucking... hurts..." Jason replied with cough, spitting blood "Could... use... healer... Tori... angry..."
"We're working on it." Harry chuckled nervously, addressing the others "Take him to the first floor, that's where we're getting all the injured and the dead. Keep him alive."
"It's too late, my lord." the woman replied in a low and sad tone. Harry turned around much to his horror, he saw Jason's body not breathing "The captain... he's dead, my lord."
* Paid In Blood *
Astoria cried holding Jason's hand, caressing her own face with it.
"You fool, couldn't you be more careful, you moronic Gryffindor?" she cried being heard by Harry, who was staying a few feet away out of respect "Why? Why did you have to die?" she sobbed and Harry decided to walk forward, putting his hand on her shoulder. Astoria turned her tear-filled eyes at him and sobbed even more.
"I'm sorry, Tori." Harry said.
"He shouldn't have died." Astoria replied in tears "I loved him. He shouldn't have... I need him."
"It wasn't his choice, Tori." Harry spoke "He was taken by the muggles."
"At least you killed them." Astoria growled, her eyes bloodshot with anger and sadness "Tell me you killed them all."
"I killed them all." Harry replied and Astoria sobbed.
"He shouldn't have died..." she sobbed again "I need him."
"No, he shouldn't have died." Harry said as Astoria hugged her husband's body.
"Why did you have to die, you fool?" she cried "I'm pregnant. You were going to be a father."
Harry felt his own heart squeezing on his chest.
* Paid In Blood *
Harry Potter-Black, the dark lord of Britain, massaged his temples.
"Care to say that again?" he told the two in front of him, choosing to ignore the outraged rant from his sister, who happened to be his under-secretary.
"Certainly, my lord." an aged Jonathan Greengrass replied "Since young Adam defeated his half-brother Scorpius in the honour duel, resulting on the young man's regrettable death..."
"Malfoy challenged my son!" Astoria ranted.
"Scorpius was also your son, Astoria." Persephone Greengrass replied with a scowl.
"That boy..."
"ENOUGH!" Harry punched the table in anger, silencing everyone in the room "You want to make Adam Hallys the heir of the Greengrass estate?"
"Indeed, my lord." Jonathan replied.
"Why?" Astoria raged "You never cared about him... Is it because the Malfoy is dead and he's the next in line? Or is it because his uncle made him his heir as well and you want the prestige of having such a powerful heir?"
"Tori, enough! Summon Adam here." Harry demanded and Astoria gasped.
"You can't be serious. You can't allow this."
"It's not in my hands, Tori and you know it." Harry replied in anger "I have no power to stop the naming of an heir and you know it. Only Adam can accept the role of the heir or not." Astoria huffed and drew her wand, casting a patronus that took the shape of a mongoose. As the patronus left the room, both she and Harry glared at the two Greengrass elders.
"I don't know what you're planning but you won't achieve it, you cowards." Astoria glared at them.
"Astoria, how dare you..." her mother started to rant, only to be cut out by Harry.
"Shut up, you harpy, Astoria is right." he glared at them "Where were you when we fought two wars for the survival of our kind? Where were you when it was discovered she had spent years under a love potion? You were the first to disown her. Where were Daphne was murdered?"
"Regretably, we..."
"SILENCE!" Harry shouted, wanting nothing more than to curse the two elders in front of him "I despise you two and... Adam, come in."
A young man with dark brown hair and shaved face, wearing blue robes came into the room, looking surprised as he recognized those present in the room.
"Mother, uncle... why did you summon me?" the young man asked, noticing the glares directed at the elders.
"These two decided they want you as their heir." Astoria announced in anger.
"Because I killed Malfoy?" the young man asked with a small scowl.
"Yes, by killing your brother in the honour duel, you became the heir yourself." Jonathan replied with a calm demeanour "You are of Greengrass blood and powerful, more than your brother was. His loss is regrettable, of course but you proved to be the superior wizard." Jonathan Greengrass said with a smile "We wish to make you the Greengrass heir, of course, you'll need to move in with us to learn about the business and attend to official events with us."
"Mh, and what do I gain with it?" Adam asked, shocking his mother and his uncle.
"What?" Astoria demanded "You can't tell me you're considering to accept."
"Why not, mother?" Adam asked "It's my birthright, isn't it? Besides, disown or not, we are still of Greengrass blood and we could use the income to get out of uncle Harry's house and stop living at his expenses."
"Are you out of your mind?" demanded Harry, shocked with what he heard, ignoring the smug looks from the two Greengrass elders.
"You taught me family is important." Adam continued, looking at his tearing mother and shocked uncle "It's my duty to make sure my family doesn't die out." he turned to his grandparents "I accept the heir position, grandfather."
"No!" Astoria snarled, seething at her own son "Have you no pride, Adam? Is this what I taught you?" her eyes teared even more "Is this what you father fought and died for? For you to sell yourself to them? What would your father say?!"
"We will never know, do we, mother?" Adam replied coldly "Father has been dead for a long long time." the slap came in a blur and he felt her face sting, seeing only his enraged mother and her red teary eyes.
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK THAT WAY ABOUT YOUR FATHER?!" she shouted, outraged "JASON WAS A GREAT MAN, LOYAL AND BRAVE. HE WOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOU!" she breathed hard, glaring at Adam "Fine, be their precious heir but don't come near me while you carry that forsaken title. They betrayed my sister, betrayed your uncle, betrayed me and you want to take their side?"
"Get out." Harry ordered, raising from his seat "The three of you, get out of my office before I make you." his magic flared and the other three needed no further encouraging. Astoria fell to her knees, crying for what had just happened and Harry actually considered to end the Greengrass bloodline...
* Paid In Blood *
The laughter of the dark lord's echoed through the chamber of the new Wizengamot. At his side, Astoria Potter-Hallys, the dark lord's adopted sister and his under-secretary, was baffled, confused and astonished. All others were shocked to silence and disbelied.
"We demand something to be done, the restitution of the Greengrass estate and the imprisonment of the boy."
"Now I'm the boy." Adam replied, standing a few feet from his grandparents, smiling widely "Two days ago I was his dearest grandson and now I'm worse than the filth under his boots. There's so much love in this family."
"Silence, whelp!" Jonathan Greengrass shouted.
"You shut up, old man." Adam replied "You had your chance and now is mine." Adam turned to the body "If it pleases this body, I can provide evidence that not only my actions were legal, they were approved by none other than the former lord Greengrass." Adam snapped his fingers and a house elf popped at his side, providing him with a folder, which he opened before them, passing several papers.
"As you can see, that's the signature of my grandfather, the former lord Greengrass, selling all the properties and businesses of the Greengrass estate to Adam Hallys, that's me, for thirty sickles. This one gives the heir of the Greengrass estate the power to control the vaults of the Greengrass estate. True, I moved the contents of the vaults to the Hallys family vault and as you can see, it was legal as all documents have Gringotts seal. Finally, I have here the official document signed by the former lord Greengrass, naming me the new lord Greengrass and disowning himself and his wife from the family." Adam passed all the documents and once again, many laughed while others admired the young man, who focused on his shocked mother "It's not my fault that the former lord didn't read the documents he was signing and since I can provide all the legal documents to my defence, all accusations against me are void. I ask this body to dismiss these outrageous accusations to my character."
The representative of Gringotts, a goblin wearing a business suit tokk the documents and read them in silence for several moments.
"The documents are legal." he announced.
"Then Adam Hallys is innocent of the crimes he's accused of." Harry announced.
"I won't take this!" Jonathan Greengrass shouted, drawing his wand against his grandson "Avada..." a blue curse hit him first, followed by a yellow, from Astoria's and Harry's wand. Persephone Greengrass cried in shock as her husband fell dead on the ground.
"How could you?" Persephone shouted at her daughter, having seen who cast the first spell "He was your father."
"My father abandoned me a long time ago." Astoria replied dryly, looking at her son "He may have taken what I love the most from me once but not again. Never again, no matter what."
The aurors took the dead body and the widow away from the chamber and the dark lord ended the session.
"If I may have a moment of the dark lord and the under-secretary's time?" Adam asked, being left alone with the two of them "Your words cut deeper than any blade or spell, mum..." Adam told Astoria after some moments of silence "Did you really think I would abandon you for them? I wanted to avenge you, dad, aunt Daph and uncle Harry and they gave me the chance to do it. I just grabbed the chance and used it to my benefit... that was what you taught me..." Astoria hugged her son and cried on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry for what I told you that day..."
"I just acted as you taught me, mum." Adam whispered "You taught me, damn it... You should know better..."
"I'm sorry..."
"I forgive you, mum." he replied, hugging her back, looking at Harry "Am I forgiven, uncle Harry?"
"Kid, you just made my year." Harry grinned "Very well done."
"Your father would roll on the ground, laughing his ass off..." Astoria whispered with a soft sob and Adam hugged her tighter "He would be so proud of you... even more than I am."
* Paid In Blood *
Daphne emerged from the pensieve strangely unfazed. Despite having seen her father's death, she was more concerned with her sister. After seeing several memories of her sister and the Hallys boy, his death and their son, she acknowledged her sister loved the boy and actually respected him.
"I don't have any problems with Hallys and my sister, should it happen." she said after sitting in the chair and Harry nodded.
"I'm not going to force anything. We already introduced them close in the club. Now, let time do its thing. It's up to them."
"All right. Just tell me one thing, what happened with my mother?"
"I think she moved in with her maiden family." Harry replied and Daphne nodded.
"Enough time wasting." she replied "I have spells to learn if we want everything to go right in this crazy plan of yours."
"You can still give up."
"Don't be ridiculous, Harry." she replied, crossing her arms "We're in this together."
"Have you thought of names, then?" Harry asked "I thought of Jormungand and Medusa."
"Because calling ourselves after mythological characters is nothing self centred nor attention grabbing." Daphne snorted "On the other hand, I like it."
"Come on, we have only one hour for practice." Daphne insisted, getting up from her seat and starting to walk out of the room chamber into the main chamber of secrets.
"As you wish, Lady Medusa." Harry replied in a taunt, making her laugh.
Happy Yule, Merry Christmas or any other celebration you may or may not celebrate at this time. See you next time.